Since its launch in 1990, Dolce & Gabbana menswear has cultivated a singular brand identity by combining contrasts: sumptuous velvet is naturally matched with ripped denim and a printed T-shirt is ideally displayed to best effect under a tautly tailored dinner jacket. Even its creators are an unexpected pairing: the soft-spoken Sicilian Mr Dolce learnt the traditional craft of tailoring from his father and the outgoing, forward-looking Mr Gabbana grew up dazzled by the glittery nightclub scene of Milan. The label evokes a world in which an impeccably suited Mr Marcello Mastroianni, in Fellini's 1960s cinematic masterpiece La Dolce Vita, sauntering through Roman cobbled streets can coexist with Mr David Beckham training on the AC Milan pitch. Thanks to skills honed over the years, Dolce & Gabbana is now synonymous with impossibly flattering cuts and an athletic, confident Italian sartorial classicism.

When I think of Dolce & Gabbana menswear, three words come to mind: 'Sicily', 'tailoring' and 'sensuality'. We always want people to feel attractive in our clothes

Messrs Dolce and Gabbana often work with velvet, inspired by their Italian background. "Velvet is associated with nobility, and I believe the first European velvets were made in Italy," Mr Gabbana explains. This jacket is a winner, combining velvet with the duo's faultless tailoring

White Cotton Shirt

"The white shirt," Mr Dolce explains, "is to my mind the symbol of Sicily - there is a plain dignity about it and it is worn by everyone, the wealthy and the poor." Dolce & Gabbana white shirts are renowned for their superior construction and razor-sharp cut

Brown Leather Jacket

On leather jackets, Mr Gabbana notes, "there are few items in the male wardrobe that so instantly provoke a particular reaction," referring to their rugged, rebellious nature. Dolce & Gabbana's versions capture this spirit, in only the best skins sourced from Italian tanneries

Red Plaid Shirt

Dolce & Gabbana is unusual in being just as strong for casualwear as it is for formal tailoring. This multi-plaid shirt combines Italian style with an Americana attitude, making it a winner for weekend wear

Distressed Denim Jeans

Although strongly associated with 1950s American style, jeans originated from Italy in the 19th century - so who better than Dolce & Gabbana to constantly update them with stylish distressing and innovative finishes